Drain plug and latch therefor



June 6, 1950 p, McVEY 2,510,410

DRAIN PLUG AND LATCH THEREFOR Filed Oct. 2. 1946 INVENTOR.

Jan [@1 5 ATTDRNEYS Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAIN PLUG AND LATCH THEREFOR Dan McVey, Bayles, Calif.

Application October 2, 1946, Serial No. 700,649

7 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved drain plug for the crankcase of motor vehicles or other equipment using lubricants that must be changed over a period of time.

An object of the invention is to provide a drain plug that is easy to operate, can be quickly removed and prevents the danger of ruining the threads in the crankcase during the installing or removal of the plug for draining the lubricant therefrom.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is the same as angle of ninety degrees;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is the same on ure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is the same as Figure 5 with the latch in position for removal of the plug;

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view of the device and Figure 8 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the drain plug comprising the invention consists of two parts which are inter-connected to form a complete unit.

Part I l comprises a sleeve l2 which is externally threaded to be mounted in the flanged opening l3 of the crankcase l4 and an annular lower marginal hex-shaped flange l on the lower end thereof engages the flange l3 when part II is threaded therein.

Part l6 comprises a sleeve 11 which is loosely mounted in the sleeve 12 so that it can be removed, but not loose enough to permit lubricant to seep between the The sleeve I2 is provided at its lower end with a circular cap l8 which is substantially the same size as the flange l5, and extending beyond the sleeve engages the flange I5 when it is in position, and the face of the cap is provided with a slot 19 for the turning thereof with a screw driver or the like.

The flange I5 is provided with a bore 20 in which is rotatably mounted the straight portion 2| of the key latch 22. The portion 2| engages in the groove 22 in the sleeve I! to retain the part IS in part H, and a cutout 23 in the portion 2| permits removal of the part 16 for the draining of the crankcase. Portion 2| of the latch has the arm 24 extending from one the line 4--4 of Figcontacting walls thereof. 1

Figure 1 turned at an I end at right angles thereto, and this arm engages the out 25 in the flange 15 to retain the latch in latching position, and this arm has a slightly curved end 26 for the unlatching thereof.

The other end of the portion 2| is provided with an arm 21 formed at an angle thereto, and this arm has a second arm 28 bent at right angles thereto to engage the face of the cap l8.

The part II, when installed in the crankcase, need not be removed since the plug can be separated by movement of the latch to unlock part I6, which is turned half way to permit the cutouts to coact so that part Hi can be pulled out to drain the crankcase.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, the construction and operation of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A two part drain plug for crankcases comprising an externally threaded sleeve, having a lower hex-shaped marginal flange, a second sleeve mounted in said first sleeve, a cap on said second sleeve adapted to engage the flange on said first sleeve to provide a leak proof joint and means for latching said second sleeve in said first sleeve in fixed relation thereto.

2. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the means for latching said second sleeve in said first sleeve comprises a spring latch having a straight portion rotatably mounted in the flange on said first sleeve, an arm on said straight portion adapted to engage said flange and a second arm on said straight portion adapted to engage the outer surface of said cap.

3. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said second sleeve is provided with a cutout to receive said latch means, and said latching means is provided with a cutout which when positioned to coincide with said first sleeve will permit removal of the second sleeve from the first sleeve.

DAN McVEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 724,065 Weichold Mar. 31, 1903 738,503 Waters Sept. 8, 1903 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,284 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1909 

